We fell into typical patterns of dealing with hurts. I would set up some kind of unrealistic expectation - usually involving Steve being able to read my mind and take away all my feelings of sadness, insecurity or insignificance. Invariably Steve would fail. He should have been praised for the times he miraculously figured all this out. But instead, I would take offense. I would suffer as a martyr in silence. You know, the loud kind of silence that is hard to not notice.

When a mother wants to be the only thing that matters in her child’s life, anyone else her child loves becomes a threat to her. This is the mom who will tolerate no rivals. . . . A jealous mom sees things only from her limited and shortsighted perspective. She looks out for her own interests. This becomes priority number one. Her actions are driven by selfish ambition and conceit.